Abdominal bandage and support



Now l6, 1937. R, P IN 2,099,541

ABDOMINAL BANDAGE AND SUPPORT Filed May 19, 1936 WITNESSES INVENTOR IRowland WSpca'n/ BY I W W RNEYg Patented Nov. 16, 193"? I UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE ABDOMINAL BANDAGE AND SUPPORT and Michael TullyApplication May 19, 1936, Serial-No. 80,495

2 Claims.

This invention relates to wearing apparel, and

' particularly to an improved abdominal bandage or support, an objectbeing to provide a construction which is in thenature of a step-ingarment and in which the parts are formed to easily fit the body at andbelow the waist line so as to constrict the same and also act as asupport for the abdominal region.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the characterdescribed having an elastic body forming a constricting and abdominalsupporting structure with the lower part associated with elasticallysupported crotch members. An additional object, more specifically, is toprovide a device of the character described wherein a removable seatmember is provided and D051- tioned so as not to interfere with theabdominal supporting body.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of an abdominal bandage and supportdisclosing an embodiment of the invention; 1

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 butshowing a slightly modifiedconstruction wherein there is presented a removable seat member;

' Fig. 4 is an elevation of the seat member shown in Fig. 3.

Referring to the accompanying drawing by numerals, I indicates the bodyof the garment which is of elastic webbing and which merges into a belt2 also of elastic webbing but preferably weaker. The body and belt areso formed as to '35 have their greatest resiliency and elasticitycircumferentially. The body I with the belt 2 form in a certain sense atruncated hollow cone with the front portion 3 formed to fit beneath oragainst the lower part of the abdominal region of a person wearingthedevice so as to act as a support therefor. The body I also acts toconstrict the body of a person wearing the device while acting as asupporting belt structure for the crotch member 4 and the elastic straps5 and 6. The crotch member 4 consists of panels I and 8 of knit fabricsecured to the portion 3 by a suitable line of stitching 9. The sections1 and 8 are slightly staggered as shown in Fig. 1 and are not connectedtogether except at the line of stitching 9 and the line of stitching Illwhere the elastic straps 5 and 6 are connected in place. The straps 5and 5 diverge as shown particularly in Fig. 2 and have their upper endssecured at II and I2 by the line of stitching I3. The crotch member 4 ispreferably of a length to extend downwardly at the front and through thecrotch to a point at the rear so that the pull of members 5 and 6 willbe in'an upward direction.

If desired, a seat. member I4 could be used, said seat member beingdisengageably mounted as shown in Fig. '3. Suitable snap fasteners I5are connected respectively to the body I and straps 5 and the seatmember 4. The seat member 4 may be woven or knit fabric and may beelastic or substantially inelastic. Where it is inelastic it- 10 willhold straps 5 and 6 against stretching. Ordinarily the seat I4 is knit.elastic and will allow any desired stretching of straps 5 and 6. Thisseat member really converts the garment'into drawers although stillacting as an abdominal bandage 15 and support. As the portion 3 curvesinwardly, at the lower part and this portion merges into the remainingpart of body I, a bell-shaped formation is presented that is adapted toreadily conform itself to the shape of the body at thefront 20 and backand to act as a desirable supportat the front of the person wearing thegarment.

When itis desired to don the device it is merely pulled upwardly overthe feet and pulled into place. The upward movement is continued until25 the belt 2 is at the waist line and the crotch member 4 is naturallyfitting more or less loosely in the crotch. As the body I is intended toact as a body molding structure and abdominal support the elasticitythereof acts to hold the device in 30 proper operative position withoutany outside supportingmeans. The device is adapted particularly for useby athletes when they are practicing orcontesting for a prize. It is ofcourse evident that the device could be used by either 35 men or women.

I claim:

1. An abdominal bandage and support comprising a step-in body formed ofelastic webbing having its greatest elasticity and resiliency cir- 40cumferentially, said body having the lower edge substantially straightacross the front and from the straight portion inclined upwardly on eachside to the center of the back so'as to present a comparatively narrowback supporting band and 5 a wide front abdominal support extendingbetween the hips and down to near the crotch, a crotch member having itsfront end secured to said straight portion with the front endsubstantially as wide as said straight portion is long, 50 a and a pairof diverging elastic members connected respectively to the rear end ofsaid crotch member and to the lower edge portion of said body at spacedpoints at the back adjacent the opposite sides of the body for pullingdiagonally, rear- 55 wardly and downwardly on the side portions of thebody for causing a constriction of the lower front part of that portionof the step-in body which extends down to near the crotch for up- 5lifting and supporting 'the abdomen of the user, and means for secln'ingone end of said diverging elastic members to the lower read edge portionof said bochr.

2. An abdominal bandage and support com- 10 prising a step-in bodyformed of elastic webbing having its greatest elasticity and resiliencycircumferentially, said body having the lower edge substantiallystraight across the front and from the straight portion inclinedupwardly on each 15 side to the center of the back so as to present acomparatively narrow back supporting band and a wide front abdominalsupport extending down to near the crotch, a crotch member having itsiront end secured to said straight portion with the front endsubstantially as wide as said straight portion is long, said crotchmember being formed of two pieces of fabric unconnected except at theends, said two pieces of fabric being partly overlapped to present a flystructure, and a pair of diverging elastic members connectedrespectively to the rear'end of said crotch member and to the lower edgeportion of said body at spaced points at the back adjacent the oppositesides or the body for pulling diagonally, rearwardly and downwardly onthe side portions of the body for causing a constriction of the lowerfront part of that portion of the step-in body which extends down tonear the crotch for uplifting and supporting the abdomen of the user,and means for securing one end of said diverging elastic members to thelower rear edge portion of said body.-

ROWLAND W. SPAIN.

